STROUD MP Neil Carmichael has said parliamentarians need to be 'transparent' when it comes to their expenses in light of the Maria Miller controversy.

Speaking after her recent visit to the Five Valleys Mr Carmichael, echoing David Cameron's sentiments, said Mrs Miller, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, had learnt a 'salutary lesson' but it was now 'time to move on'.

An inquiry was launched into her expenses in December 2012.

It cleared her of making false expenses claims, but said her 'submission of incomplete' evidence to the inquiry had breached the MPs' code of conduct.

The Commons Committee on Standards ordered her to repay £5,800 to cover over-claiming of mortgage expenses after she failed to cut her claims as interest rates fell.

In the Commons yesterday, Thursday, Mrs Miller apologised to MPs for her attitude towards an inquiry into her expenses.

The controversy comes just a week after the Culture Secretary visited Stroud to discuss broadband and the Fastershire project which is being implemented in parts of the district.

Mrs Miller met residents and local stakeholders at The Bell at Selsley on Thursday, March 27 to discuss the Government’s ongoing investment to ensure that 90 per cent of households have superfast broadband by 2015.

Mr Carmichael raised queries forwarded by residents from areas including Chalford, Coopers Edge, Purton and Stonehouse, where homeowners and businesses have struggled with low broadband speeds.

During the meeting Mrs Miller said: “Broadband is an essential aspect of quality of life. Parents want their children to be able to do their homework on the computer at home; rural businesses want to be able to compete, and faster broadband is an essential part of that.”

After the meeting Mr Carmichael said: “I am delighted that Maria Miller was able to join us today, and to see what the Valleys and Vale has got going for it.

“Faster broadband around the constituency is crucial to encouraging business investment and boosting the Stroud economy, and I will continue my work to ensure that superfast broadband is rolled out across the district.”

Comments

Will Neil also take the same line with any "benefit cheats" thats is pay back the money, say sorry and move on! I suspect not, double standards are here in plain view, do as we say not as we do!

Will Neil also take the same line with any "benefit cheats" thats is pay back the money, say sorry and move on! I suspect not, double standards are here in plain view, do as we say not as we do!Cuthbert Thickett

Will Neil also take the same line with any "benefit cheats" thats is pay back the money, say sorry and move on! I suspect not, double standards are here in plain view, do as we say not as we do!

Score: 25

bettysenior
7:32pm Fri 4 Apr 14

How a minister can stay in office when she purportedly made £1.5 million on a property where she claimed £90,000 of taxpayer’s funds and was made to pay back a measly £5,800, smacks at cronyism and a law for politicians and a law for the people. With the parliamentary committee (no matter whether they were independent members or not) exonerating her, things haven’t really changed now have they Mr. Cameron? I am not a misogynist either Prime Minister making these comments, just someone who unlike politicians, knows what’s right and what is wrong (my working-class parents brought me up that way and clearly others who should know better, do not).

Indeed the establishment has never really changed their mind-set and it is no wonder that democracy has died a death in reality in the UK when one considers the people are now just mere pawns in the political game of self-interest and personal fortune at the expense of the British people.

Dr. David Hill
CEO
World Innovation Foundation

How a minister can stay in office when she purportedly made £1.5 million on a property where she claimed £90,000 of taxpayer’s funds and was made to pay back a measly £5,800, smacks at cronyism and a law for politicians and a law for the people. With the parliamentary committee (no matter whether they were independent members or not) exonerating her, things haven’t really changed now have they Mr. Cameron? I am not a misogynist either Prime Minister making these comments, just someone who unlike politicians, knows what’s right and what is wrong (my working-class parents brought me up that way and clearly others who should know better, do not).
http://worldinnovati
onfoundation.blogspo
t.co.uk/2013/12/the-
establishment-makes-
amends-but_720.html
Indeed the establishment has never really changed their mind-set and it is no wonder that democracy has died a death in reality in the UK when one considers the people are now just mere pawns in the political game of self-interest and personal fortune at the expense of the British people.
Dr. David Hill
CEO
World Innovation Foundationbettysenior

How a minister can stay in office when she purportedly made £1.5 million on a property where she claimed £90,000 of taxpayer’s funds and was made to pay back a measly £5,800, smacks at cronyism and a law for politicians and a law for the people. With the parliamentary committee (no matter whether they were independent members or not) exonerating her, things haven’t really changed now have they Mr. Cameron? I am not a misogynist either Prime Minister making these comments, just someone who unlike politicians, knows what’s right and what is wrong (my working-class parents brought me up that way and clearly others who should know better, do not).

Indeed the establishment has never really changed their mind-set and it is no wonder that democracy has died a death in reality in the UK when one considers the people are now just mere pawns in the political game of self-interest and personal fortune at the expense of the British people.

Dr. David Hill
CEO
World Innovation Foundation

Score: 9

GlawsStudent92
8:18pm Fri 4 Apr 14

This from Mr Carmichael who himself claimed over £3,000 to move his office to Nailsworth in what appears to be nothing more than a vanity move. And a man who claimed he could live on £53 a week...

Compare all this to David Drew who was said by the Daily Telegraph to be the 3rd best value MP in the whole country out of all 650 of them!

This from Mr Carmichael who himself claimed over £3,000 to move his office to Nailsworth in what appears to be nothing more than a vanity move. And a man who claimed he could live on £53 a week...
Compare all this to David Drew who was said by the Daily Telegraph to be the 3rd best value MP in the whole country out of all 650 of them!GlawsStudent92

This from Mr Carmichael who himself claimed over £3,000 to move his office to Nailsworth in what appears to be nothing more than a vanity move. And a man who claimed he could live on £53 a week...

Compare all this to David Drew who was said by the Daily Telegraph to be the 3rd best value MP in the whole country out of all 650 of them!

Score: 13

TigerTigerBurningBright
11:25pm Fri 4 Apr 14

Remember this has all taken place years after the MPs expenses scandal.

The only person that should move on is Maria Miller.

Remember this has all taken place years after the MPs expenses scandal.
The only person that should move on is Maria Miller.TigerTigerBurningBright

Remember this has all taken place years after the MPs expenses scandal.

The only person that should move on is Maria Miller.

Score: 15

Cuthbert Thickett
7:36am Sat 5 Apr 14

"MP Neil says its time to move on" I look forward to reading that headline again, probably the day after the next general election

"MP Neil says its time to move on" I look forward to reading that headline again, probably the day after the next general electionCuthbert Thickett

"MP Neil says its time to move on" I look forward to reading that headline again, probably the day after the next general election

Score: 19

Nimue Brown
1:20pm Sat 5 Apr 14

This government talks about entitlement culture, and scroungers, and fraudsters when it comes to the poor, but its perfectly happy to see its friends and members stick their snouts in the trough. I am disgusted by how much money wealthy MPs are able to help themselves to, the double standard around entitlement is obscene. Regular people find themselves in court over far smaller sums. Maria Miller should have been in front of a judge, not let off to swan around.

This government talks about entitlement culture, and scroungers, and fraudsters when it comes to the poor, but its perfectly happy to see its friends and members stick their snouts in the trough. I am disgusted by how much money wealthy MPs are able to help themselves to, the double standard around entitlement is obscene. Regular people find themselves in court over far smaller sums. Maria Miller should have been in front of a judge, not let off to swan around.Nimue Brown

This government talks about entitlement culture, and scroungers, and fraudsters when it comes to the poor, but its perfectly happy to see its friends and members stick their snouts in the trough. I am disgusted by how much money wealthy MPs are able to help themselves to, the double standard around entitlement is obscene. Regular people find themselves in court over far smaller sums. Maria Miller should have been in front of a judge, not let off to swan around.

Score: 14

kjag23
8:39pm Sat 5 Apr 14

There are lots of things that I want to do that are illegal.
But it appears now that I can do whatever I want providing I apologise after?
Time to get busy!

There are lots of things that I want to do that are illegal.
But it appears now that I can do whatever I want providing I apologise after?
Time to get busy!kjag23

There are lots of things that I want to do that are illegal.
But it appears now that I can do whatever I want providing I apologise after?
Time to get busy!

Score: 5

Phil W Jones
2:55am Mon 7 Apr 14

Always 'time to move on', Neil, when a fellow Tory is found to be corrupt!! Time for you to move on!!

Always 'time to move on', Neil, when a fellow Tory is found to be corrupt!! Time for you to move on!!Phil W Jones

Always 'time to move on', Neil, when a fellow Tory is found to be corrupt!! Time for you to move on!!

Score: 7

Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum
10:26am Tue 8 Apr 14

Neil Neil Neil ..... you are so out of touch with the man on the street.

Should be arrested and charged with fraud. made to say "sorry that youve caught me" isnt sufficient. a layman would be jailed

Neil Neil Neil ..... you are so out of touch with the man on the street.
Should be arrested and charged with fraud. made to say "sorry that youve caught me" isnt sufficient. a layman would be jailedSupreme Chancellor Finis Valorum

Neil Neil Neil ..... you are so out of touch with the man on the street.

Should be arrested and charged with fraud. made to say "sorry that youve caught me" isnt sufficient. a layman would be jailed

Score: 4

Rock Cake
10:50am Fri 11 Apr 14

"She think's it's all over. It is now..!". Glad she's gone (forced out - I won't give her credit by saying she did the decent thing) and only glad that in just over a year, our hapless excuse for an MP will be following Ms Miller by "moving on" into obscurity.

"She think's it's all over. It is now..!". Glad she's gone (forced out - I won't give her credit by saying she did the decent thing) and only glad that in just over a year, our hapless excuse for an MP will be following Ms Miller by "moving on" into obscurity.Rock Cake

"She think's it's all over. It is now..!". Glad she's gone (forced out - I won't give her credit by saying she did the decent thing) and only glad that in just over a year, our hapless excuse for an MP will be following Ms Miller by "moving on" into obscurity.

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